Israeli Scientists share Sir Zelman Cowen prize
Two Israeli scientists are joint winners of the Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund Prize for Medical Research…awarded annually by The University of Sydney and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem alternately.
Dr Eli Pikarsky
Dr Sigal Ben-Yehuda
The prize is being shared for the first time. Dr Eli Pikarsky of Hadassah Medical School and Professor Sigal Ben-Yehuda of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem will receive medals crafted by Melbourne sculptor Michael Meszaros and will share the $10,000 prize at a ceremony to be held at the Hebrew University in June.
Dr Pikarsky has been awarded his prize for his research using complex mouse models into understanding the determinants of malignancy in testicular cancer and the inflammation and regulation of liver regeneration.
Associate Professor Ben-Yehuda’s area of research was the understanding of bacteria biology, specialising in the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
The prize was first presented at Sydney University in 2006. It is restricted to researchers under 45 years of age working in the areas of understanding or treatment of disease.
Professor Jonathan Stone, Managing Trustee of the Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund said: “Both winners have made impressive contributions to our understanding of complex and difficult diseases…cancer and antibiotic-resistant infections.”
Sir Zelman Cowen was Governor-General of Australia from 1977 to 1982. The fund was established in 1978 by Sydney businessman John Hammond and named in honour of Sir Zelman Cowen’s appointment as Governor-General.
It currently support a collaborative project and student and academic exchange between the two universities. It also funds grant for research into Alzheimer’s Disease.
